Friday, June 7, 2013

This past Sunday, "The Rains of Castamere" aired on HBO's interpretation of the Song of Ice and Fire, Game of Thrones. As someone that read the books, I have mixed feelings regarding it. True, there is the perverse satisfaction of seeing my 'show only' friends gape at the carnage, but I'm also left with a sense of annoyance. The scene, while already shocking and disheartening... was considerably 'ramped up'.

Following my post last week, Game of Thrones is guilty of doing something that happens far too much these days.

They played the shock value by 'raising' the stakes.

It's interesting to note, in the original book Robb Stark's young wife wasn't at the wedding. Nor was she pregnant. In fact there was a conspicuous lack of women at the Red Wedding. Lady Catelyn Stark did not kill The Late Walder Frey's young wife. She actually held one of his grandsons, specifically a mentally slow boy named 'Jinglebell', for ransom.

Or "Valar Morghulis" for the enlightened.

Which begs to ask, is it wrong to crush your readers hopes so brutally? In short. No. However the long answer is a bit more complex.

I will say that a wise move (and anticipating that people would be pissed about this) was making Robb a POV character in the show. He wasn't in the book. This properly shakes up the viewers, leaving them wonder what will happen next. Basically, the mark of a great show.

It is important though, to build hope again once it has been crushed. People aren't too keen on reading into a chain of lows with no hope in sight. The focus is an emotional rollercoaster, you need your highs to offset the lows. Robb's death means something because of his successes as the King of the North.

For those of you that feel the sting of betrayal. Sit tight. In a brilliant story, cruelty is often lessened by justice. Without saying anything more, justice is served.

Though this serves as a lesson for writers and readers alike. Higher risk, higher reward. You can build hope and crush it, but once the reader is invested. They tend to be out for 'revenge'. If you give that to them, they find themselves thirsting for more.

Dimanagul- (1)One without magic: (2)One that is an undying abomination; (3)One that will cause the destruction of the world of Pange.

Project begun: 09/22/2011 by Eric R. Jackson

What is Dimanagul?:

"Dimanagul" Is the pending series name however the first book of "Dimanagul" is in a completed state.

Book 1: Word Count: approx. 120,000 by Eric R. Jackson

What is The "Dimanagul" about?:

Synopsis of book 1, The Two Destroyers:

The world of Pange, a world where magic is commonplace, utilitarian, but typically weak faces destruction by it's own source of life. Mile wide suns that launch daily from it's surface and make a slow trek across the skies. The story begins in Geldbane, the largest of the nations of Pange's main continent. There, the Gelbane's genius king, Darius Solace has set the stage to find the resolution of this calamity.

However, due to an unpopular war with the Desert Nation of Dendargia, the king has been proclaimed dead at the hands of his unhappy subjects.

Pange is watched over by a lone Diety, the Goddess of Luck, who has her own agenda regarding the fate of her land.

The story follows the exploits of four men and women. Naida Holderin, a steadfast swordswoman; Helgando "Hush" Barrington, a master archer and mercenary; Zammela Glemeis, a powerful magician; and Derrek Graymer, a young man with a curious connection to the Goddess.

Along with a mysterious priest, Tartagin Tolten, they take the first steps to averting this calamity. Though they face certain failure and death, perhaps luck is enough to make the difference.